Personal stories transformed into digital films | News from Saxonwood

We’ve been transported into years gone by as residents have shared their amusing, inspiring and joyful memories as part of a new digital story telling project. 

With the expert bespoke training from Digital Voice and wonderful project support from three artists at Everyday Creativity, together, we’ve produced three short videos documenting a special life story from residents June, Georgie and Margaret.

Hearing these personal encounters has been incredible and we’ve been able to bring them to life by recording the residents' voices and adding footage to create the short films. The residents involved can cherish and share their stories with friends and families.

"I wore my wedding outfit" - June Tims, Woodlands care home, Crowborough

June was a journalist, who in the 1960s, was one of the first female journalists reporting on hard new stories. The story celebrates June’s achievements and shares her poignant and joyful tale of a visit to Buckingham Palace.

 

Anna, June’s daughter, shared her reaction to seeing the film: “I love the pictures you’ve dug from the archives, it’s brought to life an era that I hadn’t properly visualised. The story helps me to not lose sight of who mum is, you’ve recreated a person, an amazing woman. You’ve introduced to me a woman I didn’t know, not just my mother, but a person, a colleague, a journalist and I would have loved to have known her in these roles. Mum spent a lifetime talking to people about their stories and now it’s her turn to share, which is a real privilege.

Life is unique and social history can’t be replaced. It’s interesting to hear about people’s lives and what they choose to talk about and make their mark in our history books. It’s like smoke, the project catches and preserves stories before they’re extinguished.”

 

"Margaret's Memories" - Oakwood Court care home, Haywards Heath

A touching story from Margaret Ratcliffe who fondly remembers the years she trained in edication and her love of teaching music. Margaret reminisces about life long friends she made, and the change in teaching methods over the years.

 

"The newly weds and the egg" - Georgie Farrow, Saxonwood care home in Battle

Georgie shares a humorous tale of a young marriage and the rollercoaster of love, from romantic Paris and a cheeky contest in Hastings to the reality of married life.

 

Thank you to everyone involved in the production of these remarkable stories and for the funding from The Chalk Cliff Trust. The residents who took part are particularly proud and the project has brought a real sense of enthusiasm, recollection and enjoyment. The sharing of these stories is part of our sunny moments activity club, bringing a brighter life and new opportunities to our residents.